In one of our previous articles, we mentioned deep conditioning. By now you should know all benefits of deep conditioning. It is important for keeping your hair healthy, shiny, and hydrated. Did you know that this treatment can make your regular conditioner work better than usual?

What is deep conditioning?

Deep conditioning is the best present you can give to hair that is dry and/or damaged. Is your hair is bleached or dyed? Do you regularly use a hair straightener, curling iron, or blow dryer? Do you apply styling products? If the answer is yes, you should consider deep conditioning treatment. 

Even if you want to have healthy, hydrated, and robust hair, you should also think about deep conditioning it. This method is ideal for people who have frizzy hair and flyaways or hair prone to breakage.

How to deep condition your hair properly

Now that you know all the miraculous benefits of deep conditioning, we can finally show you how to deep condition your hair properly. 

The first and most important step – wash your hair thoroughly to remove buildup. Keep in mind you should use a mild shampoo, one that will not strip your hair of too many natural oils. For example, choose a mild sulfate shampoo because they contain cleaners that can remove styling products build-up and clean your hair from its natural oils just right. As a result, you will have perfectly clean hair ready for deep conditioning. 

How to apply a deep conditioner

The second step is applying the chosen deep conditioner. Later in the article, we will show you how to choose the perfect conditioner for your hair. But now, we will explain the process and the technique for you to become familiar with deep conditioning treatment. 

Be generous when it comes to the amount of product. In particular, use a full hand or even more than that of the product if you have long and thick hair. You can apply the product in two different ways. Firstly, you can squeeze the product directly into your hand and rub it through your hands before applying the product to your hair. At this point, you should avoid applying the product to your scalp and apply it directly on the hair ends.

Distribute the product evenly. You can even use a wide-toothed comb for easier distribution. Pay special attention to the ends of your hair as well as the upper hair layers. They are the oldest and most damaged sections of your hair, and because of that, they need special attention and care. Besides, they are the driest and most porous parts of your hair due to excessive exposure to various influences like the comb, clothes, hair bands, hairdryer, etc.

Another way to apply conditioner is by using a pastry brush for damp hair. While applying, focus on areas that are the driest and prone to damage. If you have hair that is very thick, separate it into sections, and apply this treatment one section at a time. This way you will get the best results since your entire hair will be covered.

How long should I be conditioning hair every day?

When you finish applying the deep conditioner, you can move on to the next step. The next step is all about letting the product sit in. Since it takes 10 minutes for the product to get to the core of your hair, this is how long you should let the products sit in minimally.

Here is a tip for you: avoid following the instructions on the products blindly. Most of them advise letting your product sit in less than 30 minutes. The fact is, the longer you leave the product on your hair, the better effect it will achieve. If you have time on your hands, leave it for at least an hour, if not longer. Some women like to do overnight deep conditioning, but that is a whole different level of commitment to the deep conditioning treatment.

Heat helps repair your hair during deep conditioning

The next step in the deep conditioning process would be to apply heat directly to your hair using a blow dryer. Before you do this, put a plastic shower cap over your head. It will not only keep the product in place but also distribute the heat evenly. 

The heat helps your hair absorb the product better. When you put a shower cap on, turn on the blow dryer and point it towards your hair. The hot air will heat up the product through the cap thus helping it work its magic. Make sure to turn on the blow dryer to a medium temperature and keep it at a proper distance. If you keep the blow dryer close to your head at a high or even medium temperature, it can melt the plastic shower cap leading to serious problems. 

When you finish heating up the product, you should wrap a towel around your head (together with the cap). This will help your deep conditioning treatment keep your head warm and your deep conditioner active. When it gets cold, remove the towel, and heat up the product once again wrapping the towel once again afterward. You can repeat this step as many times as you think is necessary.

Another way to do this treatment is to heat the product in a microwave until it is warm and then apply it directly to your hair. The product should be mildly warm, not boiling hot. All the other steps regarding the deep conditioning treatment remain the same  – shower cap and a towel. 

Rinse the deep conditioner out thoroughly

The final step is rinsing out the product. For this use slightly cooler water than usual. It does not have to be ice cold, but cold water will tighten the hair shaft. As a result, you will have silky and shiny hair.  Having rinsed the product, you can gently dry it with a towel. You can even use an old cotton T-shirt because your hair is weaker when it is wet. That is why towels can sometimes be too harsh and cause frizz. 

Now you can let your hair dry, and style as you usually do. The result should be super shiny, glossy, conditioned, healthy-looking hair.

It is also important to mention, that it is a good idea to wait several days before washing your hair the next time. You don’t want to negate the effects of this conditioning treatment by washing it out the next day. 

 

Benefits of deep conditioning

     

The greatest benefit from deep conditioning is hair damage prevention. Regular conditioning also prevents damage but deep conditioning treatment is perfect for the job. It will not only hydrate your hair but also improve its texture. With this treatment, you can say goodbye to breakage and split ends.

In short, your hair will be much healthier and better looking. Even if it doesn’t seem like your hair is damaged, it certainly is to some extent because of external influences and regular maintenance. For this reason, use deep conditioning every once in a while. 

The next benefit of deep conditioning has to do with hydration and moisture. Although you know well how important is to keep moisture in your hair, it would help to recap the most important information.

Your hair needs to have moisture which directly affects the elasticity and general hair strength and quality. Without it, the hair becomes brittle and dry which makes it prone to damage. If you use a moisturizing conditioner rich with natural essential oils, combined with a deep conditioning treatment, you can forget all about these issues.

Elastic hair means beautiful and shiny hair 

The deep conditioning treatment will make your hair elastic. Dry and brittle hair easily snaps and breaks. To avoid breakage, you need to deep condition. When choosing your hair care products, pay attention to the ones that have natural oils (argan oil, sunflower oil). They will help your hair retain elasticity even more.

Additionally, the deep conditioning treatment will also add luster and shine to your hair. This is something every woman dreams of having. Nobody likes dry and dull hair. Hair that lacks moisture often looks like that. Luckily, this method will repair all the damage leaving it fabulously silky and shiny.

These are just some of the many benefits of deep conditioning. What does deep conditioning do to your hair? It makes your hair healthier and stronger leaving split ends and damage in the past.

How often should I moisturize my hair?

First, and a very important rule is to do deep conditioning treatment regularly. As we have already explained, hair that has gone through this treatment is softer, silkier, and less porous. Similarly, it is damage and frizz resistant. However, what is important at this stage is to understand what regularly means. 

There is no rule. For some, regularly means once a week. For others, once a month. How often should I moisturize my hair is the question only you can answer. You know your hair’s needs better than anyone else. If you have a dry or damaged, curly and porous hair, then you should definitely repeat the treatment often. But, if it is straight, silky, and relatively healthy, don’t overdo it. More importantly, don’t avoid the treatment as it can keep your hair healthy and shiny longer. 

How to choose the right deep conditioner

Which products should you use, and which ones you should definitely avoid? In this section, we will try to help you choose the best deep conditioning products from the millions available on the market. 

Before we start, you should know that you can basically deep condition with any regular conditioner. The only difference is in nourishing ingredients and results. We usually use moisturizing products with rich natural oils and fatty alcohols to gain full benefit from this treatment.

When you are choosing the right deep conditioner, you should keep protein and moisture balance in mind. As far as moisture is concerned, your conditioner should have fatty alcohols (cetyl, stearyl, and Cetearyl), and humectants such as glycerin, aloe vera, and ceramides. When it comes to protein-based conditioners – look for hydrolyzed proteins, amino acids, keratin.

We recommend using Moroccanoil hydrating treatment for moisturizing. It contains a perfect balance of rich natural oils that build up your lipo structure of the hair and fatty alcohols that renew moisture. Another great product is Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask and Kerastase Nutritive Lait Vital. Best results with best ingredients.

As for the protein-based products, the best professional liquid miracle is definitely  L’Oreal Professional Serie Expert Absolut Repair Lipidium Masque. Your hair will thank you later for this treatment.

Finally, here is a pro tip for protein-based products: these deep conditioners should be kept a shorter period of time on your head since they tend to rebuild the hair structure and make hair a bit chubby and thick, maybe even harsh in the hand. All you have to do is moisturize it afterward and you will be good to go.